The Great Photo Album Adventure (Part 10B): John the Barber

When word got around that South Philadelphia nightclub musician John Valente, Sr. had a local barbershop, visiting stars began dropping in.

(John the Barber, Jr. reflected in a shop mirror below photos of his –and his dad’s – famous customers.)

ALL-STAR ROSTER…

Soon John, Sr. and John, Jr. (who joined his dad full-time after graduating from St. John Newmann High School in 1959) began cutting the hair of South Philadelphia celebrities like singers Bobby Rydell and Al Martino; comedians Guy Marks, Al Fisher and Lou Marks….

(A trio of articles about the shop’s celebrity customers, left. That’s John, Sr. on the right withJerry Vale and Lou Marks, Jimmy Durante, and Bobby Rydell.)

(John, Sr. and wife Laura with Jimmy Durante, top left, and Joey Bishop, top right. Fisherand Marks, Bobby Rydell and Al Martino cavort with John Sr. at bottom center.The Valente sign has been there since 1934.)